In the Opinion on Research Ethics in Biological Sciences, the Commission visits a subject widely debated by scientists as well as by the general public. Several cases of improper conduct in science have been uncovered in the recent past. The roots of the problem seem to be, among else, the way science is organized and conducted in large institutions and the dependence of research on external sponsors. For biological sciences in particular, the effects of improper conduct is more likely to have adverse reactions for society, public health and the environment. In this Opinion the Commission analyzes the issues of ethics in biological sciences recognizing the need for freedom of research but also that society supports science and expects to benefit from it. Freedom of research should be protected but at the same time research should be self-regulated by ethics codes produced by the scientific community. To this end the Commission undertook the task to provide Research Institutions with guidelines for the formulation of their own ethics codes. 

You can access the full text of the Opinion here and of the Report here.